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Does anyone have any accurate info on these and the other tunnels on the Endurance course, i.e length, dimensions and how many of them there are? Also what happens if anyone gets stuck, has this actually happened before? I don't want to sound all PC but is it actually safe? I have my PRMC coming up soon and the only thing that worries me is the tunnels and the smartie tubes in particular. I am quite claustrophobic and quite broad and the thought of getting myself through these tubes is terrifying me. So much so that it is affecting my sleep and I really am shitting myself. All I have ever dreamed of is a career in the Marines and I have worked hard to maintain an excellent standard of fitness. Any help and advice really would be greatly appreciated.

You don't do the endurance course on PRMC.

Hi mate,......a lad from my uncle's troop was to big to fit in the tubes (he was farkin huge). They made him do press instead of the tubes, if you are worried about getting stuck I hope that helps, lol.

Bungy,

As stated previously you don't do the endurance course on PRMC, had you been doing POC then you would have had to tackle them.
I'm not claustrophobic so I didn't have a problem going through them and being quite a small bloke I felt I had ample room. But I can definitely see how some people can see them as an issue.
You do go into complete darkness at some points only to be reminded of the direction you need to be going by a bang on the head or a boot in the face. I couldn't tell you how many/length etc because whilst going through them I was fecked, it was just a keep going at that point. However I’ve heard the longest one is 50ft/meters. There is water in most of them and reasonably sharp gravel there to fook your arms up.
They did make us carry around a couple of shovels in case they collapsed along with the key to empty the sheep dip. But I think that was just to try and mess with our heads and to give us something else to carry more than anything else. Good old Mr. Armstrong (who I very much hope is in YO training right now) ended carrying two things at one point, quite glad he passed since I had to carry his arse for the fireman’s carry.
They are safe since they are made of concrete.

If/when you get to training you will have to go through them, like I say I didn't have a problem with them but it may become a small personal war you will have to face. Look at it this way; if you did get stuck etc (it won't happen) you'll have the instructing team and a bunch of your best mates doing everything they can to get you out.
Relax, they're not as bad as they look.

All the best

Brows

bungyned wrote:I am quite claustrophobic

Not speaking from experience here but from what I've read,RM training will soon sort out your clausrophobia.Im thinking of the water tunnel and the simulated helicopter crash in water,upside down then in the dark.After these you should learn to be much more comfortable in confined spaces etc

I actually did the Endurance course at the weekend as part of my RMR training.
There is nothing really to worry about. There was not that much water in the tunnels and thats in the middle of winter after alot of rain! You'll be hanging out of your hoop and adrealine will be kicking in so the last thing on your mind will be "ooo these tunnels are quite tight". And what's more likely is there will be someone right up your ar$e shouting at you to get a move on!
Now the run back to camp afterwards is what you should be worried about!

jay999 wrote:You don't do the endurance course on PRMC.

Why would that matter ? You will eventually do them and if the thought is keeping you up at night this could be a problem as far as having a career. If I was you try and put yourself in the same position see how you cope might be you imagination?

Tom

bungyned wrote:Doe anyone have any accurate info on these and the other tunnels on the endurance course, i.e length, dimensions and how many of them there are? Also what happens if anyone gets stuck, has this actually happened before? I don't want to sound all PC but is it actually safe? I have my PRMC coming up soon and the only thing that worries me is the tunnels and the smartie tubes in particular. I am quite claustrophobic and quite broad and the thought of getting myself through these tubes is terrifying me. So much so that it is affecting my sleep and I really am shitting myself. All I have ever dreamed of is a career in the Marines and I have worked hard to maintain an excellent standard of fitness. Any help and advice really would be greatly appreciated.

You wana be a Bootneck and you can't crawl through a wet and muddy tunnel?? Come on it's not the Air cadets is it!!!.

You will be fine mate.

Church

Mate, you are going to be a boot neck you are going to be in one of the best armed forces in the world the best in my opinion if you are going to make it into it you can't let a bit of mud and concrete scare you.

Good Luck

Cheers for all the support, I half expected to have the piss taken out of me and be told to just get on with it. Is ther any videos on sites like youtube that I may find of help.

bungyned wrote:Cheers for all the support, I half expected to have the piss taken out of me and be told to just get on with it. Is ther any videos on sites like youtube that I may find of help.

Mate you have got to pass your PRMC then at least 24 weeks of RM training before you even worry about smartie tubes etc worry more on getting in first!

Dunna worry about them tubes sunshine. When you get to that phase of training you would crawl though a Chinkys Jock Strap with a dose of CLAP if your Section Cpl told you to do it!!!

Artist

That's about it - in a nutshell

Fear will become your friend

You no longer do the endurance on PRC?????? Sorry PRMC!

You still do the Assault course and USMC test I take it?

Showing your age there opps

I remember on ours one of the DS screaming "Stop 'kin shivering" Thing is.......you can!